Swimming Pool Owner's Blog

The Zodiac Baracuda MX8 is a completely different design inside and out from the normal Baracuda range. Using a cyclonic vacuum inside the head of the cleaner to pull a flapped engine rather than contracting and retracting a Diaphragm like the traditional Barracuda’s the MX8 is able to use this new driving method to turn a section of gears inside the cleaner to navigate around the pool and prevent it from getting stuck.

The wearing of parts on the cleaner is limited to the tracks of the MX-8 as you would expect, since it is the only part of the cleaner that make contact with the pool surface in normal operation. Notable repairs to the cleaner are stripped gears and the flaps of the engine snapping off. The reason for this is due to the high amounts of pressure in the cleaner, causing the cleaner to run too fast and break, less speed will prevent the cleaner from wearing out as quickly. Since the release Zodiac now include a flow restricting valve for the head of the cleaner to make sure it runs at the correct speed indicated by the manufacture, after this revision repairs are very few and far between. This Revision is available free from any Zodiac dealer.

Keeping your pool cleaner from getting stuck, whether it is a Kreepy Krauly, Zodiac (Baracuda) or any other suction cleaner is relativity simple but requires a small amount of tuning.

Correct storage, weights, hose length, water flow and maintenance can have a dramatic influence on your automatic pool cleaner’s performance and can keep it from missing spots and having full coverage in the pool.

Storage

When storing hoses single or one meter lengths it is best to have them laid straight and not curled. Curling the hose can cause the pool cleaner to tangle and accelerate ware on the hose.

Hose Weights

Designed to balance the head of the pool cleaner to surface of the pool, many end users place the hose weights just off the head of the unit however this causes the unit to lean to far backwards. An ideal place to start with the weight is the middle of the second hose and then adjust it accordingly to balance cleaner. Depending on the depth of the pool, the hose will have to be moved up or down the hose to active the correct balance.

Backwash the pool filters, if you have a cartridge filter for best results clean the cartridge with Zodiac Cartridge Cleaner 125g this will ensure to remove all oils and contaminants as well as improves filtration efficiency.

Remove all debris from all skimmer baskets and pump baskets.

Lubricate all O-rings with silicone-based lubricant.

Adjust the waters pH to between 7.2 and 7.6 by adding Hydrochloric Acid if the pH is above 7.6 or Alkalinity Up (Sodium Bicarbonate (buffer)) if is below 7.2.

Check the salt chlorinator cell and clean the cell if necessary with a Zodiac Salt Cell Cleaner.

The following is a resource to calculate your pool size, an average size swimming pool is normally around 50,000 liters. If you have having trouble calculating the size of swimming pool or require it for any reason please do not hesitate to call (07) 3396 4993.

Rectangles and Square Swimming Pools

The equation for calculating your swimming pool size in Liters is quite simple. Length of the pool times the width by the average depth (L x W x D)

For any enquirers or require more information about calculating your swimming pool size please phone, (07) 3396 4993. alternatively send us an email